Barriers Burned Away Page 41

  CHAPTER XL

  SUGGESTIVE PICTURES AND A PRIZE

  At last the day of the exhibition dawned. Dennis had sent his picture,directed to Mr. Cornell, with his own name in an envelope nailed toits back. No one was to know who the artists were till after thedecision was given. Christine had sent hers also, but no name whateverwas in the envelope attached to it.

  At an early hour, the doors were thrown open for all who chose to come.The committee of critics had ample time given them for their decision,and at one o'clock this was to be announced.

  Although Dennis went rather early, he found that Christine was therebefore him. She stood with Professor and Mrs. Leonard, Mr. Cornell,and her father, before his picture, fie could only see her side face,and she was glancing from the printed explanation in the catalogue tothe painting. Mrs. Leonard was also at her side, seeing to it that nopoint was unnoted. Christine's manner betrayed intense interest andexcitement, and with cause, for again Dennis had spoken to her deepestsoul in the language she best loved and understood.

  As before, she saw two emblematic pictures within one frame merelyseparated by a plain band of gold.

  The first presented a chateau of almost palatial proportions, heavy,ornate, but stiff and quite devoid of beauty. It appeared to be theabode of wealth and ancestral greatness.

  Everything about the place indicated lavish expenditure. The walks andtrees were straight and formal, the flowers that bloomed here andthere, large and gaudy. A parrot hung in a gilded cage against a columnof the piazza. No wild songsters fluttered in the trees, or were onthe wing. Hills shut the place in and gave it a narrow, restrictedappearance, and the sky overhead was hard and brazen. On the lawn stooda graceful mountain ash, and beneath it were two figures. The firstwas that of a man, and evidently the master of the place. His appearanceand manner chiefly indicated pride, haughtiness, and also sensuality.He had broken a spray from the ash-tree, and with a condescending airwas in the act of handing it to a lady, in the portraiture of whomDennis had truly displayed great skill. She was very beautiful, andyet there was nothing good or noble in her face. Her proud featuresshowed mingled shame and reluctance to receive the gift in the mannerit was bestowed, and yet she was receiving it. The significance of themountain ash is "Grandeur." The whole scene was the portrayal, in thebeautiful language of art, of a worldly, ambitious marriage, where theman seeks mere beauty, and the woman wealth and position, love havingno existence.

  It possessed an eloquence that Christine could not resist, and shefairly loathed the alliance she knew her father would expect her tomake after their arrival in Germany, though once she had looked forwardto it with eagerness as the stepping-stone to her highest ambition.

  The second picture was a beautiful contrast. Instead of the brazenglare of the first, the air was full of glimmering lights and shades,and the sky of a deep transparent blue. Far up a mountain side, on anoverhanging cliff, grew the same graceful ash-tree, but its brancheswere entwined with vines of the passion-flower that hung around inslender streamers. On a jutting rock, with precarious footing, stooda young man reaching up to grasp a branch, his glance bold and hopeful,and his whole manner full of daring and power. He had evidently hada hard climb to reach his present position; his hat was gone; his dresswas light and simple and adapted to the severest effort.

  But the chief figure in this picture also was that of a young girl whostood near, her right hand clasping his left, and steadying andsustaining him in his perilous footing. The wind was in her goldenhair, and swept to one side her light, airy costume. Her pure, nobleface was lilted up toward _him_, rather than toward the spray he soughtto grasp, and an eager, happy light shone from her eyes. She hadevidently climbed _with_ him to their present vantage-point, and now herlittle hand secured and strengthened him as he sought to grasp, for her,success and prosperity joined with unselfish love. The gracefulwind-flowers tossed their delicate blossoms around their feet, and abovethem an eagle wheeled in its majestic flight.

  Below and opposite them on a breezy hillside stood a modern villa, astasteful in its architecture as the former had been stiff and heavy.A fountain played upon the lawn, and behind it a cascade broke intosilver spray and mist. High above this beautiful earthly home, in theclear, pure air rose a palace-like structure in shadowy, golden outline,indicating that after the dwelling-place of time came the grander, theperfect mansion above.

  Christine looked till her eyes were blinded with tears, and then droppedher veil. In the features of the lady in each case she had not failedto trace a faint likeness, sufficient to make it clear to herself. Shesaid in a low, plaintive tone, with quivering lips, "Mr. Fleet paintedthat picture."

  "Yes," said Mrs. Leonard, looking at her with no little wonder andperplexity.

  By a great effort Christine recovered herself and said, "You know howdeeply fine paintings always affect me."

  Dennis of course knew nothing of Christine's feelings. He could onlysee that his picture had produced a profound effect on her, and thatshe had eyes for nothing else. But he overheard Mr. Cornell say, "Itis indeed a remarkable painting."

  "Do you know its author?" asked Mr. Ludolph, with a heavy frown.

  "No, I do not. It is still a mystery."

  "Will it take the prize, do you think?"

  "I am not at liberty to give an opinion as yet," replied Mr. Cornell,with a smile. "There is another picture here, almost if not quite asfine, though much smaller and simpler;" and he took Mr. Ludolph offto show him that.

  Dennis was now recognized by Mrs. Leonard and her husband, who cameforward and greeted him cordially, and they started on a tour of thegallery together. Though his heart beat fast, he completely ignoredChristine's presence, and responded coldly to Mr. Ludolph's slight bow.

  Christine, on being aware of his presence, furtively devoured him withher eyes. The refining influences of his life were evident in his faceand bearing, and she realized her ideal of what a man ought to be.Eagerly she watched till he should discover her painting where it hungopposite his own, and at last she was amply rewarded for all her toil.He stopped suddenly and stood as if spellbound.

  The picture was very simple, and few accessories entered into it. Upona barren rock of an island stood a woman gazing far out at sea, wherein the distance a ship was sailing _away_. Though every part had beenworked up with exquisite finish, the whole force and power of thepainting lay in the expression of the woman's face, which was anindescribable mingling of longing and despair. Here also Christine hadtraced a faint resemblance to herself, though the woman was middle-agedand haggard, with famine in her cheeks.

  As Dennis looked and wondered, the thought flashed into his mind, "Could_she_ have painted that?" He turned suddenly toward her and wasconvinced that she had done so; for she was looking at him withsomething of the same expression, or at least he fancied so. She blusheddeeply and turned hastily away. He was greatly agitated, but in view ofthe eyes that were upon him controlled himself and remained outwardlycalm.

  Mr. Ludolph also was convinced that his daughter had painted thepicture, and he frowned more heavily than before. He turned a darklook on her, and found her regarding Dennis in a manner that causedhim to grind his teeth with rage. But he could only sit down and watchthe course of events.

  The people were now thronging in. The gentlemen who made up the prize,with their committee of award, of which Mr. Cornell was chairman, werealso present. Most critically they examined each picture till at lasttheir choice narrowed down to the two paintings above described. Butit soon became evident that their choice would fall upon the largerone, and Dennis saw that he was to be the victor. To his surpriseChristine seemed utterly indifferent as to the result of their decision.He could not know that the prize had no place in her thoughts when shepainted her picture. She had found her reward in its effect on him.

  At one o'clock Mr. Cornell came forward and said: "Ladies and gentlemen,and especially do I address that group of liberal citizens who are sogenerously seeking to encourage art in our gre
at and prosperous city,it gives me pleasure to inform you that your munificence has broughtforth rich fruit, for here are many paintings that would do credit toany gallery. We hesitated a little time between two very superiorpictures, but at last we have decided that the larger one is worthyof the prize. The smaller picture is one of great merit; its treatmentis unusually fine, though the subject is not new.

  "The two emblematic pictures in some parts show crude and hasty work;indeed some minor parts are quite unfinished. The artist evidently hasnot had sufficient time. But the leading features are well wroughtout, and the power and originality of the entire effort so impress usthat, as I have said, we render our decision in its favor. That allmay know our verdict to be fair, we state on our honor that we do notknow by whom a single painting present was executed. Dr. Arten, as thelargest contributor toward the prize, you are appointed to bestow it.On the back of the picture you will find an envelope containing thename of the artist, whom we all shall delight to honor."

  Amid breathless expectation, Dr. Arten stepped forward, took down theenvelope, and read in a loud, trumpet-voice--

  "DENNIS FLEET."